Underwater breathing apparatus



March 22, 1960 J. M. KEMPER UNDERWATER BREATHING APPARATUS Filed Feb.27, 1956 lllllll Figi JAMES ,v KEA/PER,

11W/EN TOR United e UNDERWATER BREATHING APPARATUS James Morgan Kemper,Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to The Garrett Corporation, Los Angeles,Calif., a corporation of California Application February 27, 1956,Serial No. 567,983

8 Claims. (Cl. 12S-142) the regulator will be at the same depth as theusers lungs f and, therefore, both will be subjected to the samehydrostatic pressure. Breathing eiort will thus be minimized.

Another object of this invention is to provide a regulator mechanismwhich may be held close to and in direct communication with the mouth sothat the usual inhalation and exhalation conduits, with their attendantresistance to the tlow of air, may be eliminated, the breathing eiortbeing further reduced in this manner.

Another object is to provide a combination regulator and mouthpiece forunderwater breathing apparatus which, by eliminating the usual conduits,reduces the chances of failure of the device and increases the ease withwhich the apparatus may be cleared of water in the event the mouthpieceis dislodged during use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a regulator forunderwater breathing apparatus, the regulator having a casing with aportion to be held in theusers mouth and forming a chamber closed at oneside by diaphragm means and communicating through a valved inlet with asource of breathable gas, the diaphragm :means moving in response topressure diierences between Athe gas in the chamber and the watersurrounding the casing, means being provided, between the valve at theinlet and the diaphragm means, to cause the valve to Iopen when thediaphragm means is moved by the water `to admit breathable gas to thechamber for inhalation yiby the user.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a regulator forunderwater breathing apparatus, the regu- Vlator having a casing with adiaphragm assembly closing vone side and arranged to move inwardly andoutwardly, relative to the casing, in response to differences betweenthe pressures of the uids inside and outside ofthe casing, the casinghaving a valve for controlling the llow of breathable gas from a sourceinto the casing, the valve being a simple, disc-like poppet member whichis rocked,

lwhen the diaphragm assembly moves in one direction,

to an open position to admit breathable gas substantially 'withoutrestriction.

Another object of the invention isto provide a regu- Other objects andadvantages will be apparent from the'following'description taken inconnection with the 2,929,376 Patented Mar. 22, 1960 mechanism in adifferent operating condition.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a valve seat insert used in thecombination regulator and mouthpiece.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the'l numeral 20 designatesgenerally the underwater diving.. apparatus shown in Fig. 1. As iscustomary in such ap-l paratus, a tank 21 is provided to contain asupply of air under pressure. The upper end of the tank 21 is providedwith apparatusv 22 which includes a rst stage pressure reducingregulator and a reserve control valve. The tank, the first stageregulator, and the reserve control valve form no part of the presentinvention. They are shown merely for the purpose of facilitating anunderstanding Vof the' invention.

A exible tube 23 of required length and relativelyv reducing regulatorto the combined demand regulator andV mouthpiece 24 which forms thesubject matter of the present invention. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, thedevice 24 includes a casing 25 which may be formed in any suitablemanner such as by spinning, stamping or molding, the device illustratedbeing formed from sheet metal. Casing 25 is provided at one side with anenlarged portion 26 which forms a shoulder 27 for receiving andsupporting a diaphragm assembly, designated generally by the numeral 28.The enlarged side 26 of the casing is open so `that the diaphragmassembly will be exposed on one side to the pressure of the uid mediumsurrounding the casing 25. The diaphragm assembly will also be exposedat the other side to pressure internally of the casing. At the sideopposite the diaphragm assembly,I the casing is provided with 'a tubularprojection 30 ofgenerally oval cross-section, this projecting forming apart of the device to be inserted in the users mouth. It is obvious thatsuitable means such as a rubber cover- At one side between the diaphragmassembly and the t mouthpiece, the casing 25 is formed with a iitting 32having an angularly directed end surface 33 in which a recess 34 isformed, the tting havin-g an axially extendmg bore communicating withthe opening and with the tube 23, the latter being secured to the end ofthe fitting. in any suitable manner. The inner end of the openingy 34 iscounterbored as at 35 to receive a valve seat insert 36 shown in detailin Fig. 4. This insert may be pressed or otherwise secured in place inthe fitting 32 to be permanently retained therein. It is obvious that,if desired,. the insert could be made removable for cleaning orreplacement purposes. One side of the insert has an annular valve seat37 formed thereon, this seat surrounding a plurality of openings 38which establish communication between the recess 34 and the interior ofthe casing 25. One of the openings 38 is centrally located to receive'the stem 40'fof a valve element 41, this element being disposed in therecess 34 for engagement with theI seat 37 to control communicationbetween the recess 34 and the chamber formedwithin the casing 25.

Breathable gas under pressure from the tank 21 ilowing n.: through thetube 23 will tend to maintain the valve 41 in eiigagement with the seat37. It will be obvious, however, that when the -outer end of the stem 40is moved laterally, valve 41 will be rocked on seat 37 to an. openposition to permit breathable. gas to ow from thetank 21 into the casing25,V When thevalve il is rocked to an open position the pressuredifferential betweenthe upstream and downstream sides of the valve willbe reduced and the tendencyof the breathable gas Y-to close the valveVwill be decreased. Breathing with the deviceis facilitated by thisfeature. The Yvalve seat insert has a recess formed onone side toVreceive a yconical spiral spring 42 which servesto return the stemltio-a normal position following lateral'movementthereof `'Breathablega's flowing into the casing may lbe rinhaled bylthe user through the'tubular projection 36. Ille luser .may .also exhale spent gasythroughthe projeetidn -30 Ainto ,the .casing 25,..

jlhediaphra'gm -assernblyeZS has beenfroitided tom'ove valve :sternlaterally when inh'al'ation' by.. `the user causes the pressure in thecasing "to fall below that of the pressure of 'fluid ,surrounding theeasing. Diaphragm assembly 2S includes a ring-like plate 43,a"collar44,a flexible .diaphragm 45, which may be `ror'rned of'rubber or othersuitable material, and a vclamp plate 46, the `assembly'being engagedwith the shoulder 27 yand yieldably held in engagement therewith b'y alcoil spring 47, the

Vs'pring'being abutted at one end with a cover. member 48 carried by thekcasing 25. Cover y48 may be se'cured in 4any desirable manner, pins andbayonet `slots being designated generallyby the numeral 52. This valveis a disc-like hap valve secured to the Yclamp plate ,51 by a projection53 extending downwardly from `the central portion of thevalve 52. Theprojection 53 is disposed ina central opening in the plate 51, theprojection being provided with a head at its lower end to retain thevalve in place on they plate 51. The central portion of the plate 51 hasa plurality of openings formed therein so that when the pressure in thecasing 25 exceeds the pressure of thefluid-surrounding the casing, theedges of the valve 52 will be raised and gas or air within the casingwill flow outwardly around the edge of the valve 52. As soon as thepressure within the casing falls to that of the fluid lat-the exteriorthereof, the resiliency of valve 52 will causeV it toY move intoengagement withthe plate 51 and prevent theentrance of uid from theexterior ofl tshe 4cas-ing intotliecasing through the openingsin platePlate 570 is provided with a depressed central portion 54, this portionengaging the stem 40 when the diaphragm assembly moves inwardly ydue toa differential in pressure between the'uid at the exterior of the casingandthe gas orair therein. lThis diierential will be created uponinhalation by the user. As explained previously, lateral movement of thestem l-causes thevalve '41 to rockto an openposition, as shown in Fig.3, in which breathable Vgas'may owinto theinterior of the casing 25 fromwhich it may-be drawn by the user. When the desired amount of air hasbeen inhaled, continued Yflow of lbreathablegas into thecasing willincrease the pressure therein and canse the diaphragm to move in anoutward direction u ntil spring 402 and gas `flowing through thevinlet-causes the valve A4-1- to again engage `the seat 37 andemterruptgas-dow" lto the easing. When the user exhales,`the-spent-i gas will ow-th'rough the exhalation valve tothe surroundingmedium. The' extent ofmovenient of thediaphragmassemblyin response to pressure 11,fterfamaisat opposite sides thereof winbeiimitea by the ring-likeplatedSland'clamp plate'46. I i.

VIt will be noted from Pigs. 2 and'fsthatthecover 4S is provided with acentral opening 55. By engaging the diaphragm assembly throughpthisopening, with a linger or other suitable means, theuser may depress thediaphragm assembly and cause the valve 41 to be moved to an openposition, even though the pressure within the casing 25 exceeds thepressure of the fluid at the exterior. This'operation is performed tofacilitate the expulsion v of water from .the casing 2S in the eventwater should depressed as above described.

gain access thereto, for sometimes in the use of underwater breathingapparatus, the mouthpiece will be removed or may be accidentally4displaced-"from the users mouth and water will enter the casing. Toeiect the remov-al of this water, the lmouthpiece :may again be insertedin the nsers mouth and the diaphragm assembly It fmay also be desirableto exhale at the same time that valve 41 is opened, thus expediting thedischarge of water from the casing. When the user is face down in the`water with `the combination mouthpiece and regulator .held .in .hismouth, `any water vin thecasing '25 .will gravita'te towardsthe dia.

buildings and various contaminated atmospheres where a self-containedsource or air, oxygen or other ,breathable gas is indicated. v

I claim:v

l. In a breathing apparatus: regulator. means comprising a casing openat one end, said casing forming .a cham ber with an inlet forfbreathablegas; valve means at said inlet urged -in the closingdirection by theVpressureof said breathable gas and disposed to control .the flow -ofbreathable gas into said chamber; a diaphragm closing the open Vend ofsaid casing and being exposed at one side to the pressureof gas ings-aidchamber and at the other side to the pressure of a surroundingmediumfsaid diaphragm being movable-in response'to differentials in suchpressures; means operative when said diaphragm moves inwardly relativetosaid casingto open said valve means and admit breathable gas;.amouthpiece formed on the end Yof the casing opposite said diaphragmthrough which said breathable gas may be inhaled and spent gas exhaled;'and an exhalation valve'carried'by land'elorsing anopening in saiddiaphragm, ,said .exhalation .valve being movable toward openpositionwhen the, pressure inysaid' chamber-exceeds the pressure of thesurrounding medium by a predetermined amount.

2. In aj breathingapparatus: regulator means comprising a' casing openat one' end, said casing forming-'a chamber with an'inlet forLbreathablejjgasgmeans. -provded on the endof said `casingoppcisite saidopen end to.be held in a'divers 'mouth'to support said casing and'through which the breathable gasmay rbe inhaled and `.spent gasexhaled; valve meansat said inlet urged in' the closing directonby thepressureoflsaidJbreathablesgas'and disposed to Ycontrol the flow'ofbreathable Vgas into said chamber; ia llexible diaphragm closing theopen end of said casing and .exposed at one side to the pressure ofgasin said chamberk and at theother side tothe-pressure of a surroundingmedium, said daphragmlbeing'movable in response to differentials insuch; pressures; motion transmitting meansengaging said valve means.arid operative when saidV diaphragm moves inwardly relative tosaidcasing to open said'valve means and admit breathable gas; and anexhalation valve carried by and closing an opening in said diaphragm,exhalation valve being movable 'toward open' position' vvhen'thepressurevin said chamber'fexceeds Athe pressure or fthesurroundingrnedium by a predetermined amount. Y v

3. ln a breathing apparatus:`regulatorrneans compris ing a casing openat one end, saidcasing Aforming acharnber with an inlet for breathablegas; means provided on the end of said casing opposite said open end tobe held in la divers mouth to support said casing and through which thebreathable gas may be inhaled and spent gas exhaled; a valve seatsurrounding said breathable gas inlet; a valve element urged in theclosing direction by the pressure of the breathable gas and disposed forengagement with said seat to control the ow of breathable gas into saidchamber; diaphragm means closing the open end of said casing, one sideof said diaphragm being exposed to the pressure of the surroundingmedium and the other side being exposed to the pressure of gas withinsaid chamber, said diaphragm being mov-able in response to differentialsbetween such pressures; a stem projecting from said valve element towardsaid diaphragm means, movement of said diaphragm means inwardly relativeto said casing being transmitted by said stem to said valve element torock the same "about said seat and admit breathable gas to said chamber;and an exhalation valve disposed to close an exhalation outlet for saidcasing, said exhalation valve being movable toward open position whenthe pressure in said chamber exceeds the pressure of the surroundingmedium by a predetermined amount.

4. In underwater breathing apparatus: regulator means comprising acasing open at one end, said casing forming a chamber with an inlet forbreathable gas; means provided on the end of said casing opposite saidopen end to be held in a divers mouth to support said casing and throughwhich the breathable gas may be inhaled and spent gas exhaled; a valveseat surrounding said breathable gas inlet; a valve element urged inclosing direction by the pressure of the breathable gas and disposed forengagement with said seat to control the ow of breathable gas into saidchamber; diaphragm means closing the open end of said casing, one sideof said diaphragm being exposed to the pressure of the surroundingmedium and the other side being exposed to the pressure of gas withinsaid chamber, said diaphragm being movable in response to differentialsbetween such pressures; a stem projecting from said valve element towardsaid diaphragm means, movement of said diaphragm means inwardly relativeto said casing being transmitted by said stem to said Valve element torock the same about said seat and admit breathable gas to said chamber;and an exhalation valve carried by and closing an opening in saiddiaphragm, said exhalation valve being movable toward open position whenthe pressure in said chamber exceeds the pressure of the surroundingmedium by a predetermined amount.

5. In underwater breathing apparatus: regulator means comprising agenerally cylindrical casing open at one end, said casing forming achamber with an inlet for breathable gas; valve means at said inlet tocontrol the ow of breathable gas into said chamber; a diaphragm closingthe open end of said casing and being exposed at one side to thepressure of gas in said chamber and at the other side to the pressure ofa surrounding medium, said diaphragm being movable in response todifferentials in such pressures; means operative when said diaphragmmoves inwardly relative to said casing to open said valve means andadmit breathable gas; a mouthpiece formed on the end of the casingopposite said diaphragm through which said breathable gas may be inhaledand spent gas exhaled; an exhalation valve disposed to close anexhalation outlet for said casing, said exhalation valve being 6 movabletoward an open position when the pressure in said chamber exceeds thepressure of the surrounding medium by a predetermined amount; and acover on said casing to protect said diaphragm means, said cover havingan opening concentric with the axis of said casing through which saiddiaphragm means can be manually moved inwardly relative to said casingto open said inlet valve means irrespective of the pressure diierentialat opposite sides of said diaphragm means.

6. In underwater breathing apparatus: regulator means comprising acasing open at one side, said casing forming a chamber having abreathable gas inlet with the longitudinal axis thereof at an acuteangle to the plane of the open side of the casing, said casing alsoforming an opening through which the breathable gas may be inhaled andspent gas exhaled; valve means at said inlet to control the ilow ofbreathable gas into said chamber, said valve means comprising a valveelement and a stem disposed substantially on the longitudinal axis ofsaid inlet; movable diaphragm means closing the open side of said casingyand exposed at one side to the pressure of gas in said chamber, theother side of said diaphragm means being exposed to the pressure of thesurrounding medium, said diaphragm means being movable in response todifferentials in such pressures, said diaphragm means engaging the stemof said valve means upon movement inwardly relative to said casing androcking the valve element to an open position to admit breathable gas;and an exhalation valve disposed to close an exhalation outlet for saidcasing, said exhalation valve being movable toward open positionwhen'the pressure in said chamber exceeds the pressure of thesurrounding medium by a predetermined amount.

7. In a breathable gas regulating apparatus: a casing forming a chamberhaving an open end; a diaphragm closing the open end of said casing,said diaphragm being exposed on one side to the pressure of the gas insaid chamber and on the other side to the pressure of a surroundingmedium; a normally closed exhalation valve carried by said diaphragm;means formed on the end of said casing opposite said open end to be heldin a divers mouth to support said casing and through which thebreathable gas may be inhaled and spent gas exhaled; and a breathablegas inlet valve operably associated with said diphragm to control the`flow of breathable gas Iinto said chamber.

8. In a breathable gas regulating apparatus: `a generally cylindricalcasing forming a chamber having an open end; a diaphragm closing theopen end of said casing, said diaphragm being exposed on one side to thepressure of the gas in said chamber and on the other side to thepressure of a surrounding medium; a normally closed exhalation valvecarried by said diaphragm; a

` mouthpiece disposed on the axis of the casing and projectspent gasexhaled; and a breathable gas inlet valve opera-j bly associated withsaid diaphragm to control the ow of breathable gas into said chamber.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,728,340 Meidenbauer Dec. 27, 1955 2,743,722 McLean May 1, 19562,747,572 Gagnan May 29, 1956

